The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries has decided to have
the Agricultural & Fishery Marketing Corp. purchase 454 tons of
pears with funds from the Agriculture Stabilization Fund.
The pears are part of the 1,134 tons produced by farmers under
contracts last year with exporters to the United States.
Of the 1,134 tons involved in these contracts, 680 tons are being
held by U.S. customs which maintains the pears have been contaminated
with Daconil (chlorothalonil).
The U.S. tolerance rate for Daconil on pears is zero.
The ministry plans to compensate the exporters of the pears for their
Interrupt loss by paying insurance money.